Citrullus lanatus 'Orangeglo'
fruitOrangeglo is an heirloom watermelon from the early 1960s Willhite Seed Company in Texas, prized for stunning bright orange flesh that is exceptionally sweet, crisp, and almost tropical in flavor. Oblong 20 to 30 lb fruits have a thin striped rind and few seeds. Vines are vigorous and crop reliably, and many tasting trials have crowned Orangeglo as the best-flavored heirloom watermelon period.
Sun
full sun
Water
Every 3 days
Harvest
~95 days
Difficulty
easy
Lifecycle
annual
One season, then done
Spacing
36 in. apart in hills
Planting Depth
Seed 1 in. deep
Soil pH
6.0-7.0
Soil Type
Rich, well-draining
Hardiness Zones
Zones 3 – 11
Grown as an annual. This range is its winter hardiness, but you can grow it for a single season in any zone.
When to Fertilize
At planting, at vining, and at fruit set
Fertilizer
10-10-10 pre-plant; lower N during fruit set
Direct sow after the soil reaches 70F or start indoors 2 to 3 weeks before transplanting in peat or paper pots. Plant 4 to 5 seeds per hill at 1 inch deep and thin to 2 or 3 strongest plants; space hills 3 ft apart in rows 6 to 8 ft apart. Black plastic mulch and drip irrigation help fruit set in cooler regions. Side-dress with balanced fertilizer at vining and again at fruit set, and reduce water as fruits ripen to concentrate sugar. Handle ripe fruits carefully, as Orangeglos thin rind bruises more easily than Jubilee or Black Diamond.
Start seeds indoors
Mar 25
Transplant outdoors
Apr 29
Projected first harvest
Aug 2
Good neighbors that attract beneficial insects or deter pests
Proactive ways to stop trouble before it starts. Tap a name with an arrow for its full guide
Cover seedlings with floating row cover until flowers open, then remove for pollinators
Crush copper egg clusters on leaf undersides and trap adults under boards laid on the soil
Hose off heavy colonies and plant alyssum to draw aphid-eating hoverflies
Space generously, water at the base in the morning, and remove the lowest leaves
Orangeglos ripen about 90 to 100 days from sowing. Watch for the standard signs: dried tendril nearest the fruit, creamy yellow ground spot, and a deep dull thump. Cut the stem with shears leaving an inch attached. The thin rind splits easily if dropped, so cradle each melon at harvest. Whole melons hold 5 to 7 days at room temperature.
Orange-fleshed watermelons trade some lycopene for higher beta-carotene, which the body converts to vitamin A; expect noticeably more pro-vitamin A than red varieties. Total vitamin C, potassium, and citrulline are similar to red watermelons, and the very high water content (about 92 percent) makes Orangeglo one of the most hydrating fruits to eat on a hot day.
For educational and informational purposes only. HomeSown is not medical, health, or other professional advice. Always positively identify any plant before handling or eating it; some plants, and some parts of otherwise-edible plants, are toxic. Consult a qualified professional before consuming or otherwise using any plant, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, taking medication, or have a health condition.